No one wants to spend $500,000 on a house they can’t live in, but unfortunately, this happens more often than you’d imagine. In Calgary, there can feel like a shortage of good homes in good neighbourhoods, and this can lead to rash decisions. Especially if your home’s already sold and your kids are done school for the year. It makes sense to want to move them into your new neighbourhood ASAP, but not if it means having a ton of problems to deal with for years to come.
Get Two or Even Three Inspections.
I know what you’re thinking: Two? You want me to pay for two inspections? No, actually. While, of course, I’ll advise getting and paying for a complete inspection of your home, the second one should be free. That second inspection is for the roof, and many Calgary roofers are happy to provide these inspections free of charge. The thing is, while inspectors are great for general things, they aren’t perfect, and they aren’t specialized. An expert roofer examining your roof will find things a general inspector may miss.
Similarly, if you find you or a family member experiences allergies in the home, but your home inspector finds nothing, I’d suggest having a mould expert take a couple samples before you buy. Mould and a leaky roof are two of the most expensive problems that could be secretly wrong with a house. Spending a little extra time may be worth it.
Look into Mortgage Features.
The other place you can protect yourself is actually with your mortgage options. There are some pretty amazing mortgage features out there today, like the Encompass Home Warranty Program which insures all of your home’s major systems. Things like your furnace, AC, electrical, plumbing, etc. If you’re purchasing an older home, then a mortgage feature that protects these vital (and expensive!) systems can be a lifesaver when things begin to go wrong. And things will go wrong. Even with an inspection. It might not be the first year or the first five years, but nothing lasts forever. With a 25 year mortgage, you’ll likely be happy at least once to have a home warranty feature.
As a long-time Calgary realtor, I do everything in my power to make sure that my clients choose great homes that will make them happy for years to come. I always recommend inspectors that I trust, and help them to make decisions that protect them in the future. Regardless of whether you choose to work with me or another realtor, I hope that you find this advice useful in your home buying journey. After all, it’s important to me that all Calgarians can find a house they love. Call me today to benefit from my decades of home buying and selling expertise.